Napier emergency services deal with 16 crashes

11th July 2005

Emergency services were kept on the run in Napier during the weekend with 16 motor vehicle crashes reported, including two hit and runs which police are seeking information about.

Napier police traffic sergeant Bruce Dean said the Napier-Taupo Road, around Tarawera, was the scene of four crashes where cars struck ice and slid off the road - three of them within a four-hour period on Saturday morning. No-one was seriously injured, and one happened while officers were still at the scene dealing with an earlier incident.

Mr Dean said road ice, inattention and problems with vision through fogged-up windscreens were contributing factors to the weekend mayhem.

Police are seeking the driver of a white Mazda hatchback with aqua blue stripes along the side as well as lettering after a hit and run in Gloucester Street, Taradale, at 11.30am on Saturday.

The car ran into the back of another vehicle and would have sustained damage to its front, Mr Dean said.

The driver, described as late teens or early 20s, drove off. The other hit and run was a two-car collision Creagh Street last Friday about 7am and witnesses were being sought.

Other incidents over the weekend included crashes in Avondale Road, Hastings Street, Pakowhai Road, Links Road, Kennedy Road, Prebensen Drive and Bill Hercock Street.

No serious injuries were reported.

"It was just constant," Mr Dean said.

"And they seemed to happen in batches."

Although Napier police, fire and St John Ambulance were kept on the go Hastings police reported a quiet weekend on the roads.